Emmanuel Anebsa | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Emmanuel Wilks |
| Born | 27 November 1972 (age 51)[citation needed] |
| Origin | Bristol, United Kingdom and Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Labels | Wontstop Record |
| Website | http://emmanuelanebsa.com |
Emmanuel Anebsa (born 27 November 1972)[citation needed] is a singer, songwriter and producer from the United Kingdom. He has recorded over 30 albums, all independently produced.[1][2]
Anebsa, born Steven Emmanuel Wilks,[1] grew up in St Pauls in Bristol in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the child of a Jamaican father, Bertram Wilks, and an English mother.[3] He was raised by his father, Bertram,[2] who was the owner of the Black and White Café in Bristol, which was his introduction to reggae music.[1] Reggae stars such as U-Roy, Big Youth and Prince Fari passed through the café, and Anebsa grew up listening to artists such as Papa Toyan, Eek-A-Mouse and Peter Metro as well as Yellow Man, Dennis Brown and Gregory Issacs.[2] He was nine years old when he came home from school to find the café being raided.[3] After frequent police raids, the café finally closed for good in 2004.[2]
As well as recording over 30 albums, Anebsa has produced and collaborated on songs with artists such as Junior Kelly.[4] Earl "Chinna" Smith[2] and Anthony B.[5]
Anebsa was born Steven Emmanuel Wilks, but changed his name to Negus Emmanuel Anebsa to "release himself from Babylon bondage" and has used the name Emmanuel Anebsa professionally ever since.[2] He rejects his British background and considers himself Jamaican.[2] He considers his music a form of activism, designed to combat the "stinging crush of white oppression".[3] He traces his what he terms his "afro-consciousness" back to witnessing the police raids on his father's café, which he believes were racially motivated.[2]
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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